Politics in the way of what is good

My husband and I are small business owners in the Mat-Su Valley. Our syrup-making business of 25 years is physically demanding, and depends on our good health to operate. For the past 20 years we have paid a high price for inadequate health insurance — a major medical plan that covered nothing but a major health event, or so I thought.

My husband, Michael, injured himself in a fall and needed extensive rotator cuff surgery in 2013. Then I found out how poor our insurance was — it covered (after $3,000 deductible) 80 percent of the surgeon, but only $2,000 of the hospital bill, which was $115,000!

We were worried — Michael’s hips and knees were only getting worse, and I started to wonder if we would be able to maintain our small business if we could not get the health care he needed.

We were operating on the edge, at risk of losing all we had built for 25 years. I had started to look at other health insurance options, but with pre-existing conditions it was completely unaffordable.

Fortunately, the Affordable Care Act kicked in just at the right time, and we now have affordable, comprehensive coverage. We got rid of our old insurance, by then costing us $560 every month. This insurance “covered” me, my husband, and one of our daughters, who is now 20 years old.

Before the ACA, our older daughter was denied coverage for a pre-existing condition, so we paid separately for ACHIA (a state of Alaska plan for people who are denied coverage) for her at the tune of $300 per month, with a $10,000 deductible. So we were paying $860 per month and getting nothing.

Now here’s the good news: Through the federal exchange, we chose a Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield silver plan that is valued at $2,200 per month. With the federal subsidy, we pay only $1,100 per month for our family of four — now including both daughters, until they turn 26. It does not cost us much more than before, but now we get something for our money.

Michael had his first hip replacement in February, before our spring harvest of birch sap. We have now met his individual deductible of $4,000 plus our total out-of-pocket of $7,000 for the year, which I paid for with funds I had deposited into a health savings account that is fully tax deductible.

We have scheduled Michael’s second hip replacement for June, after harvest. Any other medical expenses that any of us experience this year will be fully covered. And, my husband will be able to walk without debilitating pain, giving him many more years of productive life. We are all breathing easier now.

The real issue is that no one should have to lose their business or productivity because of unexpected health problems coupled with the inability to afford health insurance. Comprehensive, preventative and affordable health care helps our country’s economy and the general standard of living and health of its citizens. What could be better?

I do think the ACA can use some improvement and yes, it took me a couple of months of trying to get my insurance through the federal website. But it is a start, and a huge step in the right direction.

The state of Alaska would benefit from its own exchange — and the expanded Medicaid portion is so important. Alaska’s administration claims to be small-business friendly. Small businesses are the heart of our economy — and are particularly at risk when it comes to health-care issues.

I hope that Gov. Sean Parnell and our Legislature will correct these oversights. If not, I trust that the people of Alaska will replace them with those who do not let politics get in the way of supporting what is undoubtedly good for the people he or she was elected to govern.

Dulce Ben East owns Alaska Wild Harvest LLC, dba Kahiltna Birchworks, with her husband Michael.